Attendance
It is very important for the safety of your child that we verify all
absences each day. In order to comply with attendance accounting
procedures, we must determine whether absences are excused or unexcused.
Excused absences include illness, medical appointments and trips only if
an independent study is obtained. Other absences are recorded as
unexcused. We must call the home of every child for whom we have not
received a call.
For your convenience, we have a 24-hour attendance line for reporting
absences. You may call 883-0910 any time, day or night. Please
leave your child’s name, date and reason for absence.
Please keep in mind that the school loses funding ($37.00 per student
per day) when they are absent, excused or unexcused, unless an
independent study is obtained. If you know ahead of time that your child
will be out of school for at least five days please call the office or
see your teacher to request an Independent Study Contract. This will
keep your child current with classroom activities and provide the school
with funding.
Tardies
Each time a child walks into class tardy, it disrupts the
instructional program of the others in class. If this happens several
times during the course of the morning, valuable minutes are lost. In an
effort to minimize tardiness, please help your child develop good habits
by getting up early enough to arrive to class without rushing. This will
have a positive impact on your child’s learning.
Medications
We cannot administer any over the counter medications to children. If
your child needs to take a prescription medication, we must have a form
filled out by the doctor giving complete instructions. You may pick up
the form at the school office. The medication must be in the original
prescription container. All medications must be turned in to the nurse
or school secretary.
Arrival/Dismissal
There is no supervision on the playground before 8:15 am. Please do
not send your child to school before this time. If your child does not
take the bus, or walk home, please arrange to pick him or her up
promptly after school. Please remember that every Wednesday is
Curriculum Planning Day; all students in grades 1-5 come at 8:30 am and
are dismissed at 1:50 pm. If you must pick your child up early for a
medical appointment, etc., please come to the office to sign him or her
out.
Emergency Cards
For your child’s safety and well being, it is extremely important
that we have up to date information on the emergency card. In case of
illness, injury or other emergencies, we must be able to contact a
parent or individuals you have designated as emergency contact persons.
We do not have the facilities to keep sick children at school for
extended periods of time. Parents are not always available when these
situations arise, therefore, please provide us with two names other than
yourselves. These individuals should be living in the immediate area and
should be receptive to picking up your child. We often find that those
listed as emergency names have moved or changed phone numbers. If this
is the case, or if you have any changes throughout the year (employment
location, phone number, day care, etc.) please stop by or call the
office and we will be happy to update your card.
School Phones
In order to protect our students’ valuable instruction time, we must
keep classroom interruptions to a minimum. Please make after school
arrangements with your child before he or she comes to school in the
morning. We will not interrupt classrooms to deliver messages except in
cases of emergency. Students are not permitted to use the office
telephone unless there is an emergency. We cannot accommodate those who
wish to call home to see if they can get a ride because it is raining.
Please work out a “Bad Weather” plan with your child ahead of time
outlining conditions of the weather and when and where you will pick
them up.
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Breakfast and Lunch
Breakfast and lunch are available at the school on a prepaid, weekly
basis, breakfast for $1.25 and (or free for qualified students). Lunch
for $12.50 per week, or daily at $2.50. Daily cost for milk is 35 cents.
(Prices are subject to change) Prepay and Save! Prepay $50.00 and
receive one free meal. Payment can be made at school any day during the
lunch hour. Mark your child’s name and room number on the envelope and
or check. Reduced price (40 cents) and free lunches) are available for
eligible students. Forms can be picked up at the school office. We
regret that we cannot loan money for lunches. Students are not allowed to go to
other students’ homes for lunch at any time.
NUSD Lunch/Breakfast menus
myNutrikids.com
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Lost and Found
Please label outer clothing and lunch boxes with your child’s name so
that lost items can be returned to your child. CD players, ipods,
radios, jewelry, money and other valuable items should not be brought to
school. The only exception to this regulation is when the teacher and
parent have coordinated and given permission because the item is related
to the instructional program. If an item is not claimed in the lost &
found within 30 days it will be donated to charity.
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Visiting Classrooms
When visiting the school, you must always come to the office first to
sign-in and receive a visitor’s name tag. Please do not deliver lunches,
homework, or other items to the classroom. Bring them to the office, and
the will be delivered for you.
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Homework
Homework is a planned part of the educational program. Homework
assignments are designed to:
- Develop good study habits
- Reinforce and enrich the learning activities of the day
- Help bring home and school together to support learning
You can help your children by discussing and supporting assignments,
making sure they have a quiet, well-lighted work area, and setting aside
a specific time to complete their school work. Please review student’s
work when it is sent home.
The amount of homework will vary from day to day. Homework is assigned up
to four days a week in kindergarten, and Monday through Thursday in
grades 1-5. Taking into account individual differences, the following
guidelines apply as per district policy:
- Kindergarten - no more than 10 minutes
- Grade 1 - 10 to 15 minutes
- Grade 2 - 15 to 20 minutes
- Grade 3 - 30 minutes average
- Grade 4 - 35 to 40 minutes
- Grade 5 - 45 - 60 minutes
Students are expected to complete the work to the best of their ability.
Homework Tips for Parents
Agree with your child on homework rules, such as when it must be done,
where it should be done, and what will happen if homework is not
completed. Many parents insist that homework be finished before TV can
be watched.
Set up a place for your child to do her homework, such as at a desk in
his/her room or at the kitchen table. Be sure there is a good light and
that distractions are limited. Have necessary supplies including paper,
pencils, and a dictionary available.
Expect your child to do homework each night. Ask him/her about homework
assignments and show that you think homework is an important
responsibility.
Try to schedule homework time for when you are at home, so that you may
supervise and help your child. If this is not possible, be sure to check
his/her homework each night. Ask her to note any problems that require
your assistance.
Be sure that your child understands all homework assignments. If he/she
has trouble, work out an example with him/her.
Don’t do your child’s homework for him/her. Instead, work with him/her
and encourage him/her to complete work herself/himself.
If your child is in elementary school, check his/her homework each
night. Keep track of your child’s homework assignments and ask to see
the work that teachers have returned. Pay attention to comments and look
for recurring problems. Be sure all homework is finished in proper form
and is in your child’s backpack or book bag before he/she goes to bed.
Nothing starts the day off worse than a mad scramble to complete a
forgotten assignment or a hunt through the house for mislaid homework.
Failing to complete homework or to take the finished product to school
guarantees dissatisfied teachers as well as unprepared students.
Contact your child’s teachers if you don’t understand the assignment or
if your child has special problems. Also contact her teachers if
homework isn’t assigned.
Discuss teachers’ homework expectations during parent-teacher
conferences and ask how much time your child should spend on homework
each night..
Don’t forget to praise your child for a job well done when he/she
completes his/her homework and when you see improvement.
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Safety and Security
For the safety of our children, please use good judgment and common
sense when bringing your children to school and picking them up after
school:
- Drive safely and slowly on campus and follow the directions of the Loma Verde staff there to help you.
- Pull forward into the “drop off” driveway to let your child out or
to pick up.
- If you must park, do so with great caution. There are children
walking and on bikes at the beginning and end of school hours.
- Do not park in the areas designated for staff, buses, and auction winner.
- The Novato Police Department and CHP are working with us to direct parent
drivers and to enforce traffic laws.
- In the interest of safety for all students, scooters, skateboards,
and skates are not allowed at school.
- We love your pets as much as you; but please leave them off campus.
- Parents are our strongest supporters and our best advocates. Please
model for others and for your children what we hope all parents will do.
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Bus Schedule
Bus transportation is provided by NUSD at $450 per year per student for the following students:
- Kindergartens through 5th Graders who live two and a half miles
(2 ½) or more from school. - 6th through 8th Graders who live 3 miles or more from school.
- 9th through 12th Graders who live 3 ½ or more miles from school.
View the 2008/2009 NUSD Bus Schedule
Free and reduced bus passes are available for families who qualify.
Individual bus tickets are also available for purchase.
For more information about the NUSD Transportation Program,
please call 892-1598.
Bus Pass Request Form
NUDS CALENDAR 